Table of contents

KIMPTON

Kimpton, which is bounded on the north by the
Wiltshire parish of Ludgershall, covers an area of
2,795 acres, thus forming one of the most extensive
parishes in the hundred. There are 1,825½ acres of
arable land, 721½ acres of permanent grass and 154
acres of woods and plantations, (fn. 1) Kimpton Wood in
the south-west and Littleton Copse in the east being
the principal woodland. The highest land is on
Kimpton Down, in the south-west corner of the parish,
where the summit of Pickford Hill, on which there is
a tumulus, is 456 ft. above the ordnance datum.
From this point there is a gentle slope towards the
north and east down to about 300 ft., with a subsequent rise of 100 ft. in the extreme north. The soil
is very light and the subsoil is chalk. (fn. 2) The chief
crops are wheat, barley, oats and turnips.

Kimpton Church from the South-east

Kimpton Lodge, a large brick gabled house built
about 1835, stands in a park, the entrance to which
is on the road from Fyfield to Shipton Bellinger.
North of this park lies the village. The church
stands back from the road to the south, and near it is
a pretty gabled brick house with a fine yew hedge.
The rectory, which was built in 1872, is to
the north and beyond it is the school. Great
and Little Shoddesden lie a mile to the north,
and Littleton Farm is on the eastern boundary, close
to Fyfield village. About a quarter of a mile southwest from Great Shoddesden excavations made by the
Rev. G. H. Engleheart, F.S.A., towards the close of last
century revealed a small building, probably a hut, of
the Romano-British period. (fn. 3)

The high road from Devizes to Andover and the
Midland and South-Western junction railway pass
through the north-east of the parish.

A 13th-century extent of Littleton in the Gloucester
cartulary gives many place-names, among which are
'Thursbrakedenelonde,' 'Fernfurlonge,' 'Oppethebutten,' 'Pikedelonde-juxta-Dounam,' 'Foxenhulle,'
'Willwelande,' 'Stallingforlonge,' 'Stomdene,' 'La
Dounhalf,' 'Langethornesforlong,' 'Witehulle,'
'Mushulle,' 'Hellinglonde.' (fn. 4) The following places
are named in a deed relating to Shoddesden: 'Little
Costord,' 'Hangers Close,' 'Periam.' (fn. 5)

Manors

KIMPTON was held by one Geoffrey
under Hugh de Port at the time of the
Domesday Survey, and had been held as
an alod by Wenesi of the Confessor. (fn. 6) The Ports and
their heirs, the St. Johns, continued as overlords,
having two fees here, (fn. 7) which in 1349, after the death
of Edmund St. John, were assigned, like so many
neighbouring fees, to Sir Luke de Poynings and his
wife Isabel, Edmund's elder sister and co-heir. (fn. 8) The
manor was afterwards held of the burgesses of Andover. (fn. 9)

In 1167 Kimpton was held by a certain bastard,
of whom nothing further is known. (fn. 10) In 1217 the
king wrote to his uncle the Earl of Salisbury that
Roger de Scures, having given surety that he would
do homage without delay after the siege of Porchester
Castle, was to have seisin of his land in Kimpton as
he had it on the day when he withdrew from the
service of King John. (fn. 11) Eve de Scures is mentioned
in the Testa de Nevill as holding two fees here of
Robert St. John, (fn. 12) and in 1349 John de Scures held
the same amount of the heirs of Hugh St. John. (fn. 13)

The Scures, however, did not themselves hold in
demesne. In the 13th century Hugh de Raumpenz
held of Eve de Scures and the co-heirs of Adam
Spinney held of Raumpenz by old enfeoffment. (fn. 14)
The said co-heirs were the three daughters of Adam
Spinney, Isabel wife of Alexander Hussey, Margery,
who apparently married Richard de Dummer, (fn. 15) and
Denise. (fn. 16) In 1256 Denise surrendered her share to
Alexander and Isabel. (fn. 17) In 1306 Edmund Hussey,
Alexander's son, disputed the right to present to the
church with William de Dummer, who was probably
the son and heir of Richard and Margery. (fn. 18) Ten
years later John Hussey shared the vill with John de
Wimbledon and William de Dummer. (fn. 19) In 1345
James Hussey granted manor and advowson to
William de Edendon, clerk. (fn. 20) The real lord of the
manor was, however, at this date Edmund Hussey,
James having only a life interest in two-thirds, while
Nicholas de Haywood and Joan his wife held the
other third as the dower of Joan. (fn. 21) In the 'Aid' of
the following year William de Edendon appears with
Bernard Brocas, who had purchased John de Wimbledon's estate in 1338, (fn. 22) and Margaret Spircock as his
parcenaries, (fn. 23) and shortly after this John de Edendon
presented to the church. (fn. 24) The manor subsequently
appears to have passed to the Lisles, who acquired
Thruxton (q.v.) about the same time. Elizabeth
Lisle had a quarter of a fee here in 1431. (fn. 25) Thence
it passed to John Rogers of Cannington (co.
Somers.), who had married Margaret Lisle, one of
the co-heirs of the Lisles of Wootton. (fn. 26) Sir Edward
Rogers of Cannington (fn. 27) was dealing with the manor
of Kimpton in 1551, (fn. 28) and his son, Sir George
Rogers, died seised of it in 1582, leaving a son and
heir Edward. (fn. 29) The latter sold the manor in 1591
to Robert Cook, (fn. 30) who died seised in 1601. (fn. 31) Richard
son of Robert Cook died shortly afterwards, and in
1620 his sisters and heirs, Elizabeth wife of Henry
Arthur, and Ann wife of Isaac Pennington, joined
with their husbands in selling the manor to John
Foyle. (fn. 32) The Foyles continued to hold in the male
line (fn. 33) until the death of Mr. George Soley Foyle in
1839, leaving an only daughter, Mary Anne wife of
the Rev. Charles Randolph. Mr. Charles Foyle
Randolph, J.P., D.L., son of the Rev. Charles
Randolph and Mary Anne Foyle, is now lord of the
manor, and resides at Kimpton Lodge.

Azor held LITTLETON (known in modern times
as the manor of LITTLETON AND SHODDESDEN)
of Edward the Confessor as an alod. At Domesday
it was one of the holdings of Hugh de Port, (fn. 34) and in
1096, on becoming a monk of Winchester, the great
fief holder gave Littleton to the abbey of St. Peter,
Gloucester. (fn. 35) This grant was
confirmed by his son Henry, (fn. 36)
and later by Adam de Port, (fn. 37)
whose charter precedes in the
cartulary, but was no doubt
consequent on a command
from Henry II forbidding
him to vex the abbot in his
possession. (fn. 38) The gift of Hugh
de Port to Gloucester is also
mentioned in the general
confirmations given by King
Stephen (1138), (fn. 39) Archbishop
Theobald (1139–48) (fn. 40) and
Henry II. (fn. 41) In 1280 the
abbot was found to hold half
a knight's fee of John St. John
in Littleton. (fn. 42) In 1291 the
abbot's temporalities in Littleton were valued at £10. (fn. 43)
From an undated charter, probably of Abbot John
de Felda (1243–63), it appears that the abbot held a
court here, at which Henry de Reigate had to make
suit twice in the year for the manor of Wallop Heathmanstreet, which he held at fee-farm of the abbey. (fn. 44)
A very full list of tenures, rents and services in
this manor has been gathered from the Gloucester
cartulary.

Abbey of St. Peter, Glouckster. Azure the sword of St. Paul argent set palewise with its hilt or upwards surmounted by the crossed keys or of St. Peter.

A virgate of land held in villeinage was let to farm for five
shillings a year, and besides this the tenant was to plough for the
lord twice in the year (value 4d). He was on those days to eat at
the lord's table, and to give five bushels and a quarter of barley
for chirsaec (value 3s. 3d.). He was to harrow the lord's land
at Lent until it was entirely sown (value 4½d.); to hoe the lord's
corn for three days (value 2½d.); to carry the lord's hay (value
2d.); to plant beans for one day (value ½d.); to wash and shear
the lord's wethers (value ½d.); to make a stack of hay in the
court (value ½d.); to perform summage at Andover and Ludgershall (value 3d. per annum); to mow 2½ acres every
week during the autumn (value in the whole 3s. 2½d.);
to perform three bederipes in the autumn with two men subsisting at the lord's table (value 3d., such subsistence being
deducted); to carry the lord's corn in the autumn (value 4s.);
and if he did not reap or carry, then to thresh the lord's corn to
the same value; to gather nuts for half a day (value ½d.): thus
making the value of these services beyond the farm of five
shillings, 12s. 2½d. The tenant of half a virgate of the same
land was to plough for the lord twice in the year (value 2d.);
he was also on those days to eat with the lord, and to give chirsaec according to his portion (value 19d.); to harrow (value
4½d.); to hoe (value 2½d.); to perform works relating to hay as
if he had an entire virgate (value 2d.); to plant beans (value
½d.); to wash and shear the lord's sheep (value ½d.); to make
a stack (value ½d.); to perform summage (value 1½d.); to mow,
as for one virgate (value 3s. 2½d.); to perform three bederipes
(value 3d.); to eat with the lord on those days, and to carry his
corn in the autumn (value of such carriage 4s.), or to thresh to
the same value; to collect nuts (value ½d.): sum total of the
work, 10s. 3d. (fn. 45)

About the end of the 12th century (fn. 46) Richard,
clerk of Ann, renounced his claim to the tithes of
the demesne of Littleton, receiving from the monks half
a mark yearly at Easter in recompense. (fn. 47) After the
dissolution of the monastery Henry VIII founded the
see of Gloucester, and among his gifts to the dean
and chapter of the new cathedral were Littleton
Manor and Littleton Copse. (fn. 48) This grant is dated
30 August 1541. The dean and chapter, however,
did not long keep the manor. In 1545 they surrendered it to the king, (fn. 49) and it came soon afterwards
into the hands of Sir John St. John of Lydiard
Tregoze, who died in 1576, having left Littleton, by
a will made two years earlier, (fn. 50) to his son and heir
William St. John, who died seised thereof in 1609. (fn. 51)
The male lines of the St. Johns of Lydiard Tregoze
and Farley Ghamberlayne (q.v.) came to an end on
the death, unmarried, in 1699 of Oliver St. John,
whose heir was his only sister Frances wife of Ellis
Mews, who took the name of St. John on succeeding
to the estates. Their son, Paulet St. John, was
created a baronet in 1772 and was ancestor of the St.
John-Mildmays, barts., now of Dogmersfield (q.v.).
The manor, which began in the 17th century to be
called the manor of Littleton and Shoddesden, descended in this line until 1795, (fn. 52) when Sir Henry
Paulet St. John-Mildmay, third bart., sold threequarters of it to John Pollen, created a baronet in the
same year, (fn. 53) to whose great-grandson, Sir Richard
Hungerford Pollen, fourth bart., it has descended.
A quarter of the manor had become detached at some
uncertain date. In 1779 it was the object of a fine
between Thomas Day and John Pett and others (fn. 54);
and in 1825 between Robert Morrell and Richard
Jordan, Phineas Pett, Ann Pett and Elizabeth Pett. (fn. 55)
It must have subsequently become reunited to the
main holding or have ceased to be manorial.

In 1086 Agemund held the manor of SHODDESDEN (Sotesdene, xi cent.; Shotesden, xiii cent.;
Shadsdon, Shaddesden, xviii cent.) of the king, having
also held it as an alod of Queen Edith. (fn. 56) In 1331
John de Bohun of Midhurst (co. Suss.) granted land
here to the Prioress and convent of Easebourne, (fn. 57)
who appear as overlords in the 16th century. (fn. 58)

Roger de Cormeilles, on whom Stephen Malory,
clerk, and William Randolph settled land in Kimpton, Fyfield and West Shoddesden in 1340, (fn. 59) appears
to have been lord of the manor; for licence to hear
divine service within the manor of Shoddesden was
granted once to himself and twice to Agnes his
widow during the episcopacies of Orlton (1333–45) (fn. 60)
and Edendon (1346–66). (fn. 61) In 1433 John Skillyng
was seised of the manor of Shoddesden in fee simple. (fn. 62)
He left a daughter and heir Elizabeth, who was the
wife, first of John Wynnard, and secondly of Thomas
Wayte. (fn. 63) John Wynnard and Elizabeth his wife
conveyed the manor to John Wydeslade in 1465, (fn. 64)
and in 1482 Thomas Wayte died seised jointly with
his wife Elizabeth, who survived him. He was said
to have held of John Lisle as of the manor of Kimpton, and left a brother and heir, William Wayte. (fn. 65)
John Thornborough, however, died seised of the
manor in 1511, holding of the Prioress of Easebourne. (fn. 66) His son, Robert Thornborough, died in
1522, (fn. 67) and was in turn succeeded by his son
William, who died in 1535, having held the manor
in reversion after the death of Anne, Robert Thornborough's widow, who had married Sir Anthony
Windsor as her second husband. (fn. 68) In 1561 John
son of William Thornborough sold the manor of
Shoddesden to his brother-in-law Richard Kingsmill, (fn. 69)
whose nephew William Kingsmill conveyed it in
1638 to Arthur Evelyn. (fn. 70) The next mention of the
manor is not until 1705, when Dame Barbara Henley,
relict of Sir Robert Henley, sold her life interest
therein to her son John Henley of Abbots Wootton
(co. Dors.), (fn. 71) who immediately sold the manor to
Thomas Richmond alias Webb. (fn. 72) In 1720 John
Richmond alias Webb and Anne his wife sold it to
Edmund Stradwick, (fn. 73) and in 1756 Thomas Humphries and Frances his wife conveyed it to John
Peachey, warranting him against the heirs of both. (fn. 74)
It is probable that soon after this date this manor
became merged in the manor of Littleton.

Church

The church of ST. PETER AND
ST. PAUL consists of a continuous
chancel and nave 73 ft. 2 in. long (of
which some 27 ft. belong to the chancel) and from
14 ft. 5 in. to 15 ft. 2 in. wide, north transept
13 ft. 2 in. wide by 12 ft. 5 in. deep, south transept
of like dimensions, south aisle 5 ft. 9 in. wide, with
south porch, and west tower 9 ft. 9 in. by 10 ft.
4 in., all internal dimensions.

The building was originally a plain rectangular
structure. The chancel dates from about 1220, and
the small and apparently original north door seems to
be of the same date. It is possible, however, that
the nave may retain the walling of an earlier building
which had a narrower chancel. The two transepts
and the south arcade are all work of the 14th
century; the details suggest that the north transept
was added fairly early in the century, and that the
south transept and aisle followed in the latter part of
the century. The north-east window of the nave is
a 15th-century insertion, and that further west is a
late construction with a re-used 15th-century head.
The south aisle was evidently rebuilt in the 18th
century in accordance with the date 1702 which it
bears. The tower was built in 1837.

The east window of the chancel has two ogee
trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil above; it is all of
modern stonework except the external outer order,
which is a sunk quarter-round mould, and dates from
c. 1320. Below the window is a length of contemporary scroll-moulded string course. In the
eastern part of the north wall is the front of a tomb
recess; it has a round arch with six cusps under a
gabled head, the spandrels being trefoiled. There
was, no doubt, a label to the
gable, but this has now gone,
and the recess has also been
filled in to within 7 in. of
the face; the jambs are of
two hollow chamfers with
broach stop bases sunk below
the present floor level; it
dates from the middle of the
14th century. The two north
windows are set comparatively
close together in the western
half of the wall; the first is
a 13th-century lancet, the
second window is a low-side
one without glass grooves, apparently a 14th-century insertion, and has a trefoiled
head and widely splayed jambs
with a wood lintel; its west jamb is pierced by a
squint from the north transept, which has a low ogee
trefoiled head on the west. In the south wall is a
small late 14th-century piscina, with a two-centred
trefoiled head under a gablet with trefoiled spandrel;
the jambs are of two hollow chamfers, and the details
exactly like that of the tomb recess opposite. The
first of the three south windows is a repaired twolight window of the same date, and doubtless all
these alterations at the east of the 13th-century
chancel belong to one time; the second window is a
13th-century lancet like that opposite, and the third
is similar but with partly restored inner quoins.
The south priest's doorway between the two latter is
a 14th-century insertion, but the sharpness of its
outside stonework suggests a later restoration; it is
of a sunk quarter-round order with a scroll and bead
label on round flower stops. The squint from the
south transept opens into the west jamb of the third
window, where it has a trefoiled head; part of the
eastern jamb of the window is also cut away for the
same purpose. There is no arch at the entrance to
the chancel. That from the nave into the north
transept or Shoddesden chapel has chamfered jambs
with broach stops, now partly below the floor. The
arch is of two wave-moulded orders dying on the jambs.
The transept has a much restored north window of two
ogee trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil above, under a
two-centred arch. The east wall is unpierced, but
has two original moulded image brackets, the south
one of half-octagonal plan, and the north of square
plan with a moulded face and flat sides, marking the site
of an altar. The west window is a 14th-century (?)
ogee-headed lancet with two small chamfered orders,
now uncusped, but doubtless trefoiled originally.
Below the north window is a blocked recess, perhaps
originally like that in the south transept. It contains a
plain marble altar tomb with indents for brasses, and
above is a marble slab, crested and panelled, with the
brasses of Robert Thornborough (vide infra).

The first of the two north windows of the nave is
a square-headed one dating from the 15th century,
with three cinquefoiled lights; the jambs outside are
moulded with an ogee and wide hollow mould, and
it has a moulded label; the edges inside have a double
ogee mould which also passes around the head. The
other window has three lights with cinquefoiled
heads, old work re-used; the jambs are of two
hollow chamfers outside, inside they are roughly
moulded in plaster and the window has no label.
Between the windows is a blocked doorway with a
pointed head of a single chamfered order, probably
13th-century work. The south arcade has four bays;
the pillars are octagonal, but that between the first
and second bays is wider than the rest, to range with
the transept; all the chamfered sides are stopped out
with broach stops 1 ft. 11 in. above the floor excepting in the west respond, and have chamfered plinths
below cut away in places. The east respond has an
additional chamfered plinth. The arches are all two
centred and of two chamfered orders dying on the
jambs and pillars without capitals or any break at the
springing.

Plan of Kimpton Church

In the south wall of the south transept is a piscina
with a trefoiled ogee head and of a single chamfered
order with broach stops above the sill; the sill has a
circular basin, and half-way up is a shelf. The south
window has two trefoiled ogee-headed lights and a
quatrefoil over in a two-centred head with moulded
labels inside and out, the latter apparently of modern
repair. Below the window are the remains of a
cinquefoiled ogee-headed tomb recess; its outer foils
have been removed and it is partly filled in against
either jamb. Its back is pierced by a low trefoiled
light; this window had been filled in, and was discovered at a recent restoration. In the east wall are
two image brackets; the southern one has been
hacked away underneath, and had a chamfered quarter
round below; the other seems a modern copy of it.

The south aisle has two small south windows. The
first is a single trefoiled ogee light under a square
head with pierced and cusped spandrels. Its lintel
inside is plastered; it is evidently an 18th-century
copy of a 14th-century window done when the wall
was rebuilt. The south doorway is a plain one with
chamfered jambs and segmental arch, probably of
18th-century date. The second window has a plain
ogee-headed light and a plaster lintel inside; it is
contemporary with a doorway. A panel outside,
east of the porch, bears the date 1702 and the
churchwardens' names.

The tower dates from 1837 and is built of flint
and brick; the arch opening into it from the nave
is a pointed one of cement. It has two stages with
brick buttresses. The west window is of brick with
a wood frame and a pair of brick lancet windows
pierce each wall of the bell chamber.

The roof of the chancel is gabled and panelled
below in oak; it is all modern except the moulded
tie-beam to the middle truss, which has a carved
foliage boss in the middle. The gabled nave roof is
also modern; it is open timbered below. Both
transepts are oak panelled below, and the aisle has a
lean-to roof, all being modern.

The altar table dates from the late 16th century,
and has heavy carved baluster legs and good rails.

The font is modern, octagonal in plan. The
other furniture is also modern. The only old
monuments are those in the north transept. The
upper one has on a marble panel with cresting over
the following inscription on brass, 'Off your charite
pray for the soule of Robert Thornborough Esquyer
whos body here restyth and dyed the xii day of May in
the yere of Or lord God mvcxxii and for ye soul of
Alys and Anne his wyves & all there children ō whos
soul ihu have mercy.' Above the inscription are the
brass figures of Robert Thornborough and his wives,
the first with two children behind her and the other
with seven. He is in armour, and above him is
inlaid a cross with the five wounds; from his mouth
issues the prayer 'Crux Xpi libera me'; the wives
are dressed alike in kennel head-dresses with belts
fastened by clasps in the form of three roses. The
scrolls from their mouths are inscribed 'Crux Xpi
salva me' and 'Crux Xpi defende me' respectively.
Above the figures are the indents of three
shields.

Below this slab is a small altar tomb half buried
in the wall, it is 4 ft. 8 in. long and projects 1 ft.
4 in.; the top slab has a moulded edge and sunk in
it are the indents of two figures, and an inscription,
with two shields at the angles. The modern
glass in the window above has the arms of Robert
Thornborough, Ermine a fret and a chief gules, and of
Henry Merceron, Azure two cheverons between two
molets in the chief and a crescent in the foot all
argent.

There are three bells: the treble by Warner,
1905; the second by Robert Wells of Aldbourne,
1764; and the tenor by William Purdue of Salisbury,
1662.

The plate consists of a silver-gilt chalice, a most
valuable example of early silver work, possibly
belonging to the late 15 th century, and a silver
paten and flagon of 1688.

The first book of the registers contains baptisms
from 1593 to 1659, marriages 1593 to 1656, and
burials from 1593 to 1652; the second continues all
three to 1753; the third has baptisms and burials to
1812 and marriages to 1754; the fourth has marriages from 1754 to 1797; and the fifth continues
them to 1812.

Advowson

Adam Spinney, lord of Kimpton,
is said to have presented to the church
of Kimpton in the reign of King
John. (fn. 75) In 1306 William de Dummer and his wife
Maud claimed the advowson against Edmund Hussey,
but presumably without success, (fn. 76) and it continued to
descend with the manor until 1886, (fn. 77) when it was
acquired from Mr. Charles Foyle Randolph by Mr.
Henry Merceron. Mr. Francis Henry Merceron of
Tangley now holds it.

In 1291 the church was assessed at £ 10, with a
pension of 5s. and another of 2 lb. of wax valued at
8d. (fn. 78) In 1535 the value, beyond reprises, was
£25 12s. 9d(fn. 79)

The school was built in 1873 and enlarged in
1895 for 75 children.

Charities

In 1795 Gorges Foyle, by a codicil
to his will, left £100, the interest to
be applied for the relief of the poor,
invested in £133 11s. 5d. consols.

In 1839 George Soley Foyle, by will proved in the
Prerogative Court of Canterbury 5 December, left
£200 for the use of the poor, invested in £220 1s. 7d.
consols.

The Rev. Edward Foyle by will, date not ascertained, left a legacy for the poor, represented by
£135 18s. 2d. consols.

The several sums of stock are held by the official
trustees. The yearly income amounting to £ 12 4s. 4d.
is applied wholly in the distribution of coal.

The National Schools are entitled to a share of
the charity of Mrs. Sophia Sheppard. (See under
Fyfield.)

41. Ibid. i, 349. There is in the cartulary (i, 334) what purports to be a confirmation by the Conqueror dated 1086.
Its value is shown by the fact that it
refers not only to Hugh de Port's grant
of 1096 but to several others of an even
later date.

77. Feet of F. Hants, East. 29 Edw. I;
Cal. Close, 1343–6, p. 580; Egerton
MSS. 2031–4 passim; Inst. Bks. (P.R.O.).
There is, however, in 1316, after the
manor had passed from the Spinneys to
the Husseys, a rather puzzling record of a
conveyance of a messuage, land and rent
in Kimpton and Shoddesden, and the advowson of Kimpton, by Hugh Spinney to
William de Midgham and Maud his wife
(Feet of F. Hants, Hil. 9 Edw. II). It is
possible that the latter are the same a
William de Dummer and Maud his wife.